Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

The Journal of International Management Research and Applications is a peer-reviewed journal published in accordance with the ethical principles and rules stated below, with the aim of publishing original and scientific studies conducted in the field of management. Articles submitted to the Journal of International Management Research and Applications are evaluated through a double-blind peer-review process, and provides authors with the opportunity to publish their studies free of charge. The journal publishes theoretical and/or empirical studies that contribute to the management sciences field. JIMRA began publication in 2022, and it is published twice a year, in June and December. The journal's languages are Turkish and English.

The ethical duties and responsibilities adopted by the Journal of International Management Research and Applications are based on the principles published by the Guidelines for Scientific Research and Publication Ethics in Higher Education Institutions, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the COPE Guide for Ethical Conduct and Best Practices for Journal Editors, and the COPE Guide for Best Practices for Journal Editors. In this context, it is crucial that all contributors to the publication process (authors, readers, researchers, publisher, reviewers, and editors) fulfill the following responsibilities to ensure ethical principles. Furthermore, information is provided regarding the actions or situations which Journal of International Management Research and Applications evaluates as plagiarism and unethical behavior.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

  1. Any responsibility arising from non-compliance with ethical principles belongs to the author(s).
  2. Authors are expected to submit original and scientific studies in the field of management sciences, typed in either Turkish or English. If author(s) use or utilize other studies, they have to indicate full and accurate attribution and/or citation.
  3. Individuals who did not contribute to the study should not be cited as author.
  4. Authors may be asked to provide raw data regarding their articles within the scope of the evaluation process. In such a case, the author(s) must be ready to submit the expected data and information to the publication committee as well as scientific committee.
  5. If the author(s) discover a deficiency or error in their published work, whether in the pre-review or review process, they have the responsibility to inform the journal editor or publisher, and to cooperate with the editor in correcting or retracting the study.
  6. Authors cannot have their manuscript in the submission process for more than one journal simultaneously. Each submission can be initiated following the completion of the previous submission. A paper published in another journal/book cannot be submitted to the Journal of International Management Research and Applications. During the submission process, "Copyright Agreement" and “Title Page” including information about the work and authors must be uploaded to the journal article submission platform separately from the manuscript.
  7. No request for adding or removing authors or changing the order of authors are accepted for a study which is already in review process; however, changes can be made in author titles and their affiliations if necessary.
  8. Papers that do not comply with the publication principles of the journal cannot be included in the review process.
  9. No royalty is paid to the authors of the articles published in the journal.

Ethical Responsibilities of Referees

The Journal of International Management Research and Applications conducts its review process based on the principle of double-blind peer review. In review process, evaluation forms and referee comments on full-text articles are transmitted to the author(s) by the editor through the journal management system. Referees evaluating papers for the Journal of International Management Research and Applications are expected to take the following ethical responsibilities:

  1. Reviewers must agree to review only those papers that they can allocate time for and that fall within their area of expertise on the subject matter for evaluation.
  2. Reviewers must recognize that peer review is a process which requires accurate timing and effort to provide a fair review. They must act accordingly during the review process. Therefore, reviewers should complete the review process as fast as possible.
  3. Referees must act honestly, objectively and fairly in the evaluation of the paper, based on the principle of confidentiality.
  4. Reviewers are required to notify the journal editorial board in case of any potential conflict of interest with the study or author. This conflict of interest may concern various areas. For example, if a referee discovers or suspects the author of a study, she must notify the journal editorial board and withdraw from the review. Similarly, if a reviewer is conducting research on a topic very similar to the submitted paper during the review process, she has the right to notify the journal editorial board, and withdraw from the review.
  5. Referees should not agree to review a manuscript simply for the sake of reviewing it without intending to evaluate it. Withdrawing from reviewing a manuscript after skimmimg it is contrary to academic ethics.
  6. Referees must use a constructive and polite language when stating their evaluations. They must avoid humiliating personal comments that include hostility, slander, and insults.
  7. Referees must fill out the manuscript evaluation form completely, and prepare a reasoned report in case of rejection.
  8. Referees must protect the confidentiality regarding the details of the manuscript under evaluation and the evaluation process, even after the article evaluation process has ended.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editor in-Chief and Editors

  1. Editors are responsible for implementing the blind-review and evaluation process policies outlined in the journal's publication policies. In this context, the editor ensures that each manuscript is reviewed fairly, objectively, and in a timely manner.
  2. Editors may decide to accept or reject a paper for publication solely based on the value, originality, simplicity as well as aim and scope of the journal.
  3. The editor must immediately start the evaluation process of the manuscript submitted to the journal.
  4. The editor has full authority and responsibility to accept or reject a submitted manuscript for evaluation. However, in the end of the evaluation process the editor takes the reviewers’ opinions into consideration at the decision stage.
  5. At least two referees are consulted during the evaluation process. In case of acceptance or rejection, a third referee may be asked to evaluate the paper.
  6. Editors must inform the author about their reasoned decision.
  7. Editors should choose referees who contribute to their fields with their publications, adhere to ethical principles, and facilitate the journal's publication process.
  8. When situations that contradict the rules of scientific publication ethics are detected by the editors or reported by the referees, action is taken in accordance with the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive.
  9. The study in which ethical violation is detected;
  • The phrase "Retracted:" is added to the beginning of the title in the electronic version.
  • Instead of the Abstract and Full Text contents in the electronic display, the reasons for retraction of the study are published together with the notifications of the institutions and organizations to which the author(s) are affiliated, if detailed sources of evidence exist.
  • Notice of retraction is posted on the homepage of the journal website.
  • In the first issue to be published following the retraction date "Retracted: Study Title" will be added to the table of contents of the electronic and printed copies, and starting from the first page the reasons for retraction and the original quotes cited will be shared with the public and researchers.
  • The above retraction notices are sent to the institution(s) to which the author(s) are affiliated.
  • For recording, the retraction notifications listed above are sent to the institutions and organizations where the journal is indexed. In addition, the publication board may recommend ensuring the validity and reliability of the previously published studies of author(s) or withdrawing them to the publishing houses and publication committees of previously published studies of the author(s).
  • In addition, the publication board may recommend ensuring the validity and reliability of the previously published studies of author(s) or withdrawing them to the publishing houses and publication committees of previously published studies of the author(s).

Publisher's Ethical Responsibilities

Journal of International Management Research and Applications the publisher's ethical responsibilities are as follows:

  1. The publisher acknowledges that the editors are responsible for the evaluation of the papers submitted to the Journal of International Management Research and Applications, and have the authority to decide on the publication process.
  2. The publisher provides an open, electronic and free access to the information about journal, as well as articles on the website of the Journal of International Management Research and Applications.

Evaluation Process/Blind Refereeing System

1- Submitted studies are evaluated by the editor and/or publication committee members in terms of purpose, scope, methodology and language.

2- For the scientific evaluation, studies that comply with the publication and writing principles are sent to two referees who are well known for the studies they have conducted in their fields. The evaluation process is carried out in a way that the authors and the reviewers do not know each other's identities (blind refereeing).

3- If both referees give positive reviews, the study is accepted and planned to be published in the volume and issue determined by the Publication Board.

4- If both referees give negative reviews, the study is rejected to be published in the journal.

5- If one of the referees gives a positive review, and the other gives a negative review, then the study is sent to a third referee; in this case the review from third referee determines the acceptance or rejection of the study for the publication in the journal.

6- Manuscripts are not returned, whether published or not. In case that referees ask for corrections, authors have to take the referees' critiques and suggestions regarding their submitted manuscripts into consideration.

7- It is the author's responsibility to submit the revised text to the journal within the specified time period. The revised manuscript may be reviewed again by the reviewers who asked for corrections. Referees are not informed about the identities of the authors, and authors are not informed about referees likewise (Blind Review). Referee reports are archived for safekeeping.

8- The pre-review and peer-review of submitted manuscripts is expected to be completed respectively within 2 weeks and 8 weeks. However, due to delays in replies or feedbacks from the reviewers as well as appointment of a new or third reviewer, the process might take longer.

Plagiarism and Unethical Behaviors

All manuscripts submitted to the Journal of International Management Research and Applications are checked using Turnitin (https://www.turnitin.com/) software. A similarity rate exceeding 20%, failure to meet scientific requirements, and being outside the scope of the journal are sufficient reasons for rejection. Manuscripts with a similarity rate below 20% are subject to an evaluation process. Manuscripts exceeding this rate are reviewed in detail, and can be returned to the authors for revision or correction. If any plagiarism or unethical behavior is detected the manuscript is directly rejected.

Actions contrary to scientific research and publication ethics are following:

  • Plagiarism: Presenting others' original ideas, methods, data or studies as one's own, partially or totally, without citing them in accordance with scientific rules.
  • Fraud: Using non-existent or distorted data in scientific research,
  • Distortion: Distorting research records or obtained data, presenting devices or materials that were not used in the research as if they were used, distorting or manipulating research results in line with the interests of individuals and organizations which supported the research,
  • Re-publication: Presenting duplicate publications as separate publications in academic appointments and promotions,
  • Slicing: Dividing the results of a research into pieces inappropriately and in a way that disrupts the integrity of the research and publishing them in multiple issues, and presenting these publications as separate publications for academic appointments and promotions,
  • Unfair authorship: Including someone as the author who indeed have not contributed to the study, excluding someone who has contributed to the study, changing the order of authors without justification or inappropriately, in subsequent editions removing the names of those who have actively contributed, using one's influence to have one's name included among the authors without any active contribution,
  • Not stating the supporting individuals, institutions or organizations and their contributions in publications,
  • Without the permission of the owner using theses or studies that have not yet been submitted or defended and accepted,
  • Publishing data obtained from surveys and attitude research conducted within the scope of a scientific study without obtaining the explicit approval of the participants or, if the research is to be conducted in an institution, without obtaining the permission of the institution,
  • Not obtaining the necessary written approvals from the authorized units before starting research and experiments.

Some unethical behaviors are listed below:

  • Not stating if the article was produced from the author's master's/doctoral thesis or a project/paper,
  • Not declaring conflicts of interest regarding submitted articles,
  • Disclosing the double-blind peer review process.